Letters from Lida - 20

October 18. (1)

Dear Dorochka!

I was going to write you everything many times but did not get a chance. The only day I can do things is Sunday, and  today Uncle Chaim-Abe (2)and Uncle Shinshin came to visit us, and on top of it as soon as I sat to write you a letter, our relative Dina from Grodno entered in the house – she is going from Vilno to Ivie and on her way stopped in Lida to see the family. Lisa is still with use and is planning to go home on Tuesday. About your acquaintances I already wrote to you and repeat one more time that without Fania you must not make any acquaintances (3). Have to finish the letter because they interrupted me and it is impolite <to write in the presence of the guests>.  Be healthy and happy by the wishes of loving you mama Revekka.

 

Dear children!

How are you doing, how is you life? How is Manfred’s health? Everything is the same here. The Holiday, thank God, is already over <probably Roshashana>. We are very happy that X, (4) thanks God, looks good, as Dora wrote to us. Be healthy and happy. Loving you mama Revekka.

 

Dear Dorochka!

I was very happy to read your last letter, thank God that you had a great time and if God allows, you will have a good New Year and spend it well and joyfully. Everything is the same at home, it is raining all the time and very cold. The forecasts for the winter are for very cold and we haven’t even  prepared the windows <in the cold climate people used to winterize   the windows:some material, usually cotton, was put between the window and wooden window frame, and between the two window frames – usually there were two for each window. The window was closed for the winter and only small part of the window, called “fortochka”  was periodically opened for ventilation>. Tomorrow I am going to do the laundry. Lisa is still staying with us, she ordered a dress for herself. She is probably 5 or 6 months pregnant and thank God, feels good. Gutel, thank God, is developing well, she is a nice and a good girl, and of course, everybody loves her very much. Has Fenchka already came from Tel Aviv?  How is Manfred’s father is doing and how is Manfred’s health? Did he get well after his illness? I thought it should be a court day soon. How is it in Palestine <as country circumstances> now? Is it getting better?

Everything is the same with us. Meilach is working all day and I am trying as I can to help Mama. I think we have a hard life and you wrote that over there it is even harder. Where do you get so much strength?  How are you doing? How did you spend the Holidays? What’s good in your life? How are you? God helps you in everything. How is X developing? Dorochka wrote that she <unclear> looks well. I am hurrying to finish the letter so we won’t miss this mail. Be healthy and happy. With kisses, love Frida.

November, 8

Dear children!

I did not write you last week – did not have time because there was a lot of work in the store. You <will> know about everything from Frida’s letter, although I did not want to write you about it because now it is over and Papa, thank God, is not in so much pain anymore. Before, with Frida stopping  by <at the store> from time to time we managed somehow, now because of Papa’s illness it is much harder and we decided to hire a girl to help. Meilach’s sister Lipka recommended a girl from Stsvey family and we hired her.

<Hebrew or Yiddish> but I will get used to her and she will get used <to us>, one cannot judge from first impressions <apparently Revekka is not very happy with the girl.>.

 Lisa spent more than a week with us after the Holidays because of Papa, but Boria bothered her, asked her to come home all the time. She, thank God, looks good, even gained some weight without her “naches” < here means “her son”>. They sent him to  school but he got expelled. They got a girl who is taking care about him until 2 pm. She <Lisa> asks to give you her regards. I am very glad that X , thank God, got well, thank her for her regards to me - Dorechka wrote that she was asking why I don’t come to see her, and I am very-very touched by that. I would give the world to see her and all of you. What happened to Manfred? Why did he get sick? How is your and X’s health? I cannot describe what a wonderful girl Gitel is. Only the < best> attraction at home. She talks all the time, without stopping. Interesting: she takes a book and pretends that she is reading. Yesterday she got a pencil and started moving it on the paper and “wrote” : “Dora, I wish you would be healthy..” etc. For few days she was without Frida <when Frida went to Vilno> and did not even ask for her. Only once when she woke up in the morning, she asked Meilach, ”Daddy, has Mommy come back already?” and he said “no” but at that time there was knock on the kitchen door, so she started asking her Papa to look if her Mommy came. As soon as I start writing about her, I forget everything else. Too bad that when you were in Tel Aviv Manfred and his father did not feel good. God les you all be healthy, this is the most important. Dorochka, I am not really afraid of the cold weather, may God just give me the health.  Uncle Shimson and Chaya and uncle Chaim – Abe, who sent you their regards, are visiting us especially often. Dorochka, your winter coat that you used to wear, Frida gave to the girl when we interviewed her for hire. Now, when we introduce her to our customers they  ask if this is the coat of Pani <respectful Polish title for a woman> Dora, <unclear> and they treat Frida as Pani. Many ask what are you writing about. Some, such as Mickevichevi and Podaikovi are asking me to give you their regards. Especially one <store owner> who sells candies across from our store asked to say hello to you. Gitel is playing around so much that I can’t write. Right now she is sitting on the back of the chair and asking me to write you , would you come. Well, be healthy and happy by the wishes of your loving mama Revekka.

 
My dearest!

Last week I did not write to you, my dear Dorochka, because I was with Papa in Vilno. Since you left, right after your departure, he started having problems with his facial nerve. That lasted for two weeks and then the pain stopped. Well, on the second day of <“nuschi,” unclear > it started again but there was no option to take care of it in Lida, so Friday  morning I went with Papa to Vilno. For the first few days he was in horrible condition. Professor <a good doctor in Vilno> advised us to get Papa to the clinic where Papa <got accepted and > stayed for a week. Thank God, the pain subsided and he did not have to have a shot that I was very afraid of. All that time I was with Papa and did not take care of the house and the rest of the family at all. But thank God, not for such a long time.  Papa is not allowed to stay in a cold at all, and outside he always has to be wrapped in a scarf. The cold weather is bad for him.

 We got a girl <to work> in the store, we also will provide her with a room and food and pay 10 zl. So far she worked for one week, we will see how it goes. Mama works very hard, she leaves in the morning and comes homr late at night. These are all our news for you.

 Gitel, thank God, is developing very well, I will make a picture of her on her 3^rd birthday.  Meilach works very hard, he is busy for the whole day. How are circumstances in Palestine? Dorochka, I am very happy that you already could understand Hebrew and German. I heard that Kravetskaya got a very good position in Tel Aviv and <also> has many suitors. Dorochka, don’t even think about a kibbutz. With God’s help you will get by somehow, maybe not always great, but not always bad. It is already cold here and God knows what kind of winter is ahead of us. The sale in the store are so-so, the market days are not as busy as they used to be, they do not let us to have a lot of business now. Expenses are high with the maid<at home>, <hired at the store> girl, and with the store – hope, God let us pay all our expenses somehow. What’s new about Fanechka? I am very happy that X got better and you became friends with her. Gitel is always asking about her and wants everybody to come to visit her Grandma <Revekka>. Be healthy and happy, kiss you with love, your loving Frida.

(1) October 18 was a Sunday in 1925, 1931, 1936, and 1942.  Dora made aliyyah before April 1936 (see letter 24, the first dated letter to Dora in Palestine), so this letter must have been written in 1936.
(2) Chaim Abba is obviously still in Lida. Thus, this letter is earlier than letter 19.
(3) In Lida, no one could do much of anything without the whole town knowing. This is a reaction to the perceived dangers of young women going wild in the absence of people they’ve known all their lives.
(4) Name of child removed for privacy reasons.